Manon Banta, a teaching artist with a MFA from The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, shifted her storytelling skills to documentary filmmaking - directing, producing and editing the short documentary, “Probable Odds,” filmed during the 2003 Breeder’s Cup at Santa Anita Race Track. She’s worked as an Interviewer for the AFI Film Festival’s red carpet premieres, Field Producer for the Associated Press Television at the Sundance Film Festival, production coordinator/ line producer for numerous independent films as well as occasionally appearing in front of the camera. She began teaching with The Mary Pickford Institute in 2008 and currently designs and teaches curriculum that combines the VAPA and CTE Standards for Media with real world, hands-on experience.

Andi Hicks, has been affiliated with the Mary Pickford Library and Timeline Films since 1996 as a producer/writer/editor/graphic artist. She has been a part of the Mary Pickford Institute since its inception, as a project manager and teacher. Andi has an extensive background in the performing arts and has traveled extensively in Central America and Europe and created and published Expedition, The Magazine of the Americas. In addition to her production work, she choreographs and teaches dance at community colleges and professional dance schools. She currently teaches and lectures in the dance department at CSULB.

Adán Avalos is an artist, filmmaker and a PhD candidate at USC School of Cinematic Arts. His dissertation focuses on Latino migrant communities and media consumption/production. Avalos’ dissertation topic pays tribute to his personal experience as the tenth child in a Mexican migrant labor family of eleven based in the agrarian community of Madera, California were he was raised following the crops on both sides of the US/Mexico border. After earning a BA in Chicano Studies and Art at California State University, Fresno, Avalos taught studio art and film production in public schools for five years.

Catalina Ausin was born in the colorful Mexican city of Guadalajara. She developed an eye for photography at an early age while living in Mexico, and spent her free time experimenting with an SLR 35mm camera and an old Fisher Price PXL 2000 toy camcorder. Catalina’s passion led her to study Cinematography at the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, and at FAMU, Film and Television School of The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. Catalina freelances as a cinematographer and has shot an array of narrative short films, music videos, documentaries, commercials and experimental art films. Catalina shares her passion for filmmaking by teaching and mentoring students in video and editing skills. She has taught at Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, the USC School of Cinematic Arts, New York Film Academy at Universal Studios, Live Arts Group and is the newest member of the Mary Pickford Institute team.

Keith Lawrence, is a filmmaker who has been producing films for over twenty-five years. He has produced and/or directed over 150 documentaries and three feature films. Keith has been the Chief Financial Officer for the Mary Pickford Foundation for six years and was inspired to create the Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education out of the desire to serve the public and to give more opportunities to those less fortunate.